Statement by Congresswoman Jane Harman

Congresswoman Jane harman - Press Release

INTRODUCTION OF THE `EQUITY IN PUBLIC EDUCATION ACT OF 1996'
September 30, 1996

Mr. Speaker, earlier today I introduced, with my friend and colleague Representative Tom Campbell, a bill to reimburse the States for the added costs of educating the children of illegal immigrants. According to Gov. Pete Wilson, such costs to the State of California totaled over $1.5 billion in fiscal year 1994-95 alone.

The Equity in Public Education Act of 1996 is a fair and bipartisan solution for reimbursing the disproportionate costs which States such as California incur by educating illegal alien children in public schools.

Requiring States to foot the bill for the Federal Government's failure to stop illegal immigration is unfair and inequitable. Border control is a Federal responsibility. The Nation's inability to adequately control our borders should not result in additional costs to States. Unfortunately, other efforts to solve the problem have centered on kicking kids out of school or forcing local school administrators to act as INS agents and determine the status of each student.

As nearly every national police organization has noted, the effect of such policies is to put kids on the streets, where they are likely to exacerbate our crime problem, and to render them part of a permanent, unemployable underclass.

Mr. Speaker, there is a better solution to this problem, one that both sides of the aisle can agree on. The bill which we have introduced today authorizes an equitable reimbursement formula for the costs of educating illegal immigrant students without an immigration status determination being made at the school site.

I ask that the text of the bill be printed following my statement.